Valve structure



Dec. 20, 1955 J. B. TUTHILI..

VALVE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 4, 1952 INVENTOR. da/7 7Z/7L/2/7/ @HWIM W j M m MNM m United States Patent Y ,la

This invention has to-do with valve-structure of the kind that is-particularly-adapted `-tctoontrol the-Howof corrosive substances -suchras -aeids,-.=ai1dhas therefore; for it`s'=primaryA objectY the provision-of novelly arrangedfparts permitting the utilization--of---materialsithat areA resistant to 'the `corrosive act-ion -of-suehsubstances It is fthe mostimpor-tant-objectofithisinvention 'to provide alilow control-valve -for-acidifei-'us '1liquids'orsi`m'ilar cor-rosive substances,- whieh-valve includes part'slcapable of being immersed within thefluid to be controlled and including a hard rubber bo'dy, together-with a reciprocable va1ve.and:valve Vstern oithev samenmaterial, azdarglass outlettubeiprovided .witha .seatcooperable witlirthe-yalve intleclosedposition.

Anotherrobject hereof istoprovide'awalve havngelectromagnetic actuating meansthatissinttum providedwith anfiron core coupleddirectly. withrrthefh'ard rubber-.valve stem and disposed above the level of liquid within which the valve body is disposed.

Other objects include novel details of construction making it possible to use resistive materials in cooperation with each other while at the same time assuring that the entire assembly is leak-proof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a substantially central, vertical, cross-sectional view of valve structure made pursuant to my present invention, illustrating the same operably mounted within a liquid container; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken on line ll-II of Fig. l.

Many industries are in need of a satisfactory valve for controlling the iiow of fluids which have a deleterious effect upon the valve itself, resulting in imperfect operation and frequent repair and replacement. By way of example, automatic washing machines used in laundries and even in homes, are today provided with means to measure and direct predetermined amounts of cleaning iluid to the tank of the washer. Many of the cleaning fluids are highly acidic and quickly corrode or eat away the materials forming the mechanism to control the flow thereof. Rubber, glass, and many types of synthetic plastics are resistant to such acids, and therefore, as will hereinafter be made clear, the valve structure of this invention has been adapted to make possible the use of such preferred materials.

The tank within which liquid is stored, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, is broadly designated by the numeral 12 and preferably made from glass or other satisfactory material capable of withstanding the corrosive action of the acidic liquid 10. Tank 12 is open at its top but may be provided with a lid if desired, and an opening 14 in the bottom wall thereof receives externally threaded end 16 of reduced diameter and forming an integral part of an elongated body 18 of relatively hard rubber that may be either natural or synthetically produced.

The body 18 has a continuous bore therethrough on its longitudinal, vertical axis that is of reduced diameter as at 22 near the lowermost end thereof for receiving a glass tube 24 by press tt. A resilient lock ring 26, preferably 2,727,715 'Ratented Deze.l 20..,-1955 ICC oftplastic material surrounds. the 1 glass tub'es24 andris 'disposed `within pjortion 28 of bore 20ithat-'has alargerrdiameter than that of bore portionA 252.- Theborenportionl 28 is internally threaded below the ring26-ffor receivingan L-shaped coupling :30; Coupling-'31Min :turn receves'a porton` of tliei tube 24 jat the lowermost endfthereoffand'bears tightlyl against theresilientlock ring 26'.

A conduit 32', also'ofrplastic material-,is connectedfwith theA 'coupling r30 inany suitablermanner-suchras byf-means of a connecting nut 34. Body lsisrigidlysecured to the bottom lwall of the :tank 12by means ofa 'nut'rthreaded on end 16 and bearing; againstAthevllowermostilfaceofsthe tank 12.'

A11-enlarged cavity.38 'at the uppermostend' oftthebody `18, receives a` tapped bushing 40- that in turn: mounts an e'rrterr'ially` 'threaded tube 42z having; `a? continuousoub turned Iilange 44 resting'upon the bushing 40; The. tube `4211s closedlat its topand-extends-upwardly beyondnthe body `1v6ft'o receive an electromagnet 46 that may in turn be: secured to-the tankl 12' if desired, byv means of' a bracket-18.

Ar vertically, reciprocable iron core` 50, within=theV tube 42; is `held biased `towardtheflowermost:end of itspathzof travel by a' spring 52- overlying thefsame. A valve; stem 54:of relatively hardrubber` orthe like; is lreleasably seicured to. the `iron* fcore 50'randf depends therefrom within tl1`e:bore:20'ofbody` 18. A replaceable lvalve ftip v56` tis vof vhardi rubber or` plastic vmaterial vand mountedionthefstem `S'flatthe lowermostlend thereofl `It isrmw'seen `thajtcore :50, stemv 54 anditiprreciprolkcatevertice-ily#as a unitvtowardland away fromthe :glass tube 24 and that the tip S6 extends into the tube 24, resting on a seat 58 at the uppermost end of tube 24 when the reciprocable unit is normally held biased at the lowermost end of its path of travel. It is noteworthy that the tube 24 extends into the bore 20 above the portion 22 thereof and terminates in the seat 58 substantially in alignment with a laterally extending or radial inlet opening 60 formed in the body 18 and communicating with the bore 20. The i'low of liquid 10 into the bore 20 is controlled by means of a short glass tube 62 having a hard rubber wedge member 64 surrounding the same and removably fitted within the inlet opening 60 of body 18.

It is now clear that the level of liquid 10 will rise within the bore 20 and therefore, will be always available for immediate discharge into the tube 24 upon raising of the tip 56 off of the seat S3. Thus, as long as the level of liquid 10 is above the glass tube 62, the same may be discharged into the conduit 32 merely by energizing the electromagnet 46. Such energization causes the iron core 50 to move upwardly against the action of spring 52, thereby in turn raising the stem 54 and the tip 56. Immediately upon de-energization of the electromagnet 46, the valve will close by the action of gravity as augmented by the action of spring 52.

All parts of the valve assembly that are subjected to the deleterious action of the substance 10 controlled thereby, are made from materials capable of resisting such corrosive action and by careful forming of the valve structure as shown and above described, it is possible to resort to resistant materials of this character. No leaking will occur since as is obvious, the tip 56 will always seat itself Within the tube 24, and it is to be noted further that core 50, stem 54 and tip 56, as a unit, are entirely separate from all other parts of the assembly. Accordingly, as the assembly is placed in use, such unit will tend to rotate and tip 56 will not always come to rest on seat 58 in lthe same position. Any wear on the tip 56 will, therefore, be uniform and a tight closure presented until it becomes necessary to replace the tip 56. Such replacement is simple and inexpensive by virtue of the readily disassembled parts that have been provided herein. There will be noV leakage around the tube 24 either within the bore portion 22 or Within the bore portion 28. Coupling 32 receiving the lowermost end of the tube 24 and bearing tightly against the resilient lock ring 26, obviates any such possibility of leakage. Likewise, the nut 36 holds thebody 18 tightly against the bottom wall of the container 12 and prevents leakage through the opening 14.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

Valve structure adapted to be mounted within a tank having a bottom wall provided with an opening therein for controlling the flow of a corrosive liquid from said tank, said structure comprising an elongated, upstanding, corrosion resistant, tubular body of length adapted to extend above the level of said liquid in said tank and having a portion of reduced diameter at its lower end adapted to pass through said opening, said body having a vertical bore therethrough including an upper stretch, an internally threaded lower stretch and an intermediate stretch of reduced diameter, there being a tluid inlet in the body adjacent the lower end of said upper stretch placing the latter in communication with the exterior of the body; means adapted for releasably securing the body to the tank in tightly sealing relationship to said opening with said porsaid bore, 4said valve including an uppermost, magnetically sensitive section, an intermediate, corrosion resistant section and a lowermost, removable, corrosion resistant, wear resistant, tapered section adapted to close said seat when the valve is at its lowermost reciprocated position, said intermediate section being of reduced diameter to permit accumulation of a quantity of said liquid in the lower part of said upper stretch evenwhen the valve is in said seat closing position; means yieldably biasing said valve downwardly; and an electromagnet mounted adjacent the upper extremity of said'body and adapted for electrical energization to magnetically attract said uppermost section and thereby reciprocate the valve upwardly away from said seat closing position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 283,544 Weston Aug. 21, 1883 1,398,025 James Nov. 22, 1921 1,523,035 Murphy Jan. 13, 1925 1,698,826 Shatter Jan. 15, 1929 2,321,176 Bloch June 8, 1943 2,376,402 Svirsky May 22, 1945 2,442,599 Herrick June 1, 1948 2,449,438 Wisegarver Sept. 14, 1948 2,535,226 Oliver Dec. 26, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 806,223 France Dec. 10, 1936 346,548 Italy Feb. 20, 1937 555,716 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1943 666,773 Great Britain Feb. 20, 1952 688,521 Germany Feb. 23, 1940 711,576 Germany Oct. 3, 1941 

